Easy Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide Serum Recipe
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If you love the idea of hydrated, plump, and bright skin without spending more than you need to then you’ll love this easy DIY Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide Serum. Using just four ingredients — hyaluronic acid powder, distilled water, niacinamide, and a preservative — you can easily create a professional-quality serum in your own kitchen.
This recipe requires no heating which is a plus!
Why These Ingredients?
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Powder — A powerful humectant that binds water to the skin, leaving it looking plump and hydrated. Works beautifully at very low concentrations. Preferably a Low or Medium Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Powder so that it can penetrate deeper into the skin. You can get it from here.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) — Brightens skin tone, supports barrier repair, and smooths texture. You can purchase it here.
- Distilled Water — The pure base for your serum. Using distilled water (not tap) helps keep the product stable and bacteria-free longer. You can purchase any one online or here.
- Preservative — Since this is a water-based formula which can be a breeding ground for bacteria, a broad-spectrum preservative is essential for safety. We’ll use Geogard Ultra here, but you can swap for another skin-safe preservative suited to water-based products - just make sure to check the recommended concentration with your supplier. You can purchase the one I use here.
Formula (50 g batch)
Phase A
- Distilled water — 94.5% (47.1 g)
- Hyaluronic Acid (low molecular weight) — 0.5% (0.25 g)
Hyaluronic acid powder should be used at a concentration of between 0.01% to 2%.
Phase B
-
Niacinamide — 4% (2 g)
Niacinamide powder should be used at a concentration of 2% to 6% at a pH between 4 and 6.
Phase C
- Geogard Ultra — 1% (0.5 g)
It works best in formulations with a pH of 3-6.
When handling Geogard Ultra, use gloves and goggles to protect the eyes and skin from irritation.
Geogard Ultra is normally used at concentrations of 0.75-2%,
- Citric acid solution (10% in distilld water) — as needed to adjust pH to 5.3–6.0
Equipment You’ll Need
- Digital scale (accurate to 0.01 g)
- Sanitised glass beakers or heat-safe mixing bowls
- Small whisk or spatula
- pH meter or pH strips
- Clean dropper or pump bottle
Method
1. Hydrate the Hyaluronic Acid (HA) - Phase A
Sprinkle your HA powder slowly into the distilled water while stirring constantly. It will clump at first so don’t panic! Let it sit for 1–2 hours (or overnight in the fridge), stirring occasionally with a clean rod until it forms a smooth gel.
2. Add Niacinamide - Phase B
Once the HA is fully hydrated, add niacinamide and stir until completely dissolved. Niacinamide dissolves easily at room temperature.
3. Preserve & Adjust pH - Phase C
Add your preservative and mix well. Each preservatives recommended amount varies so check with yoru supplier. Measure your pH using Universal pH strips (not litmus paper) — for both niacinamide stability and preservative effectiveness, aim for pH 4.5-5.5. Adjust with citric acid* solution if needed.
- *To prepare a citric acid solution, dissolve 1 part citric acid in 9 parts distilled water (e.g. 1 g citric acid in 9 g water) to create a 10% solution.
- Add this solution drop by drop to your formulation, checking the pH with a fresh strip or meter reading each time. Stop once you reach your target pH.
- This solution should be freshly prepared for each formulation. Because it contains only water and citric acid with no preservative, it is not stable for storage and may become contaminated if kept. Discard any leftover solution after use.
4. Bottle & Store
Transfer your serum into a sanitised dropper or pump bottle. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months.
How to Use
Apply 2–3 drops to clean, damp skin in the morning or evening, before moisturiser. Always follow with sunscreen in the daytime.
Final Tips
- Don’t skip the preservative — water-based formulas are a breeding ground for bacteria without one. The one I have recommended is certified by the Soil Association for use in organic products and is safe for use on the skin.
- Avoid going over 0.5% HA to keep the serum light and non-sticky.
- Ensure your workspace is sanitised and clean. You can do this by using 70% rubbing alcohol on your equipment and work surfaces. Wear gloves, an apron and goggles if needed.
- Niacinamide is most comfortable for the skin between pH 4.5-5.5, so pH-checking is key.
💧 Bottom line: This DIY Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide Serum is simple, effective, and gives your skin a hydration + radiance boost without a luxury price tag.